Greek Prime Minister Moves Up Date For Moscow Visit

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has been invited to visit Russia on April 9, one month earlier than originally planned.

Tsipras' office said on March 17 that he had received an invitation from Russian President Vladimir Putin to make the trip in April, rather than waiting until May 9 when Tsipras was originally invited to Moscow.

Tsipras' office said Greece had requested moving the meeting with Putin forward.

Thre Greek prime minister is scheduled to meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on March 23 to discuss Greece's efforts to renegotiate its massive debt to creditors.

Eurozone finance ministers agreed at the end of February to prolong the European part of Greece's multibillion euro bailout package until the end of June but they want Tsipras to agree to reforms before dispersing any more aid to Greece.